You keep your head down as you walk to class, hoping that your hair will provide enough cover against the tears that are fighting their way down your cheeks, agitating the bruise that is beginning to form on the skin there.

He put his hands on you again. There's another student—a boy, who has taken a liking to you in the worst-possible way. Every time he sees you in the halls, or the gym, or the parking lot, or anywhere he can get away with it, really; he has to touch you. It's like you're a walking magnet for his fists.

You can confidently say that this abuse is unwarranted. You're a new student, after all. Not to mention the new semester just started two weeks ago. God, what did you do to deserve this?! You've considered going to the principal to complain, but you've held off for fear of making the situation even worse.

Ahh, fuck, your face hurts...! Okay, you know what? Fuck it. You're skipping your next class. You'd rather not have to explain the reason why your face is in such a sorry state. Besides, what if it gives other students ideas? Oh hell no.

You immediately spin on your heel to head in the opposite direction. As you're hurrying away, you plow into another student. Your heart skips wildly as you scramble out of the way, murmuring a low "sorry". You head up to the roof, praying that the door's unlocked. The door knob easily turns for you; thank God.

But, when you open the door, you see that someone else has already beaten you. They're sitting on the edge of the roof, their back to you. You silently curse this intruder, throwing your head back in exasperation. Great. You wanted to be alone. Maybe if you keep your distance, they won't notice you. You close the door as quietly as you can, finally feeling the weight on your shoulders start to ease. You let out a breath, reaching for your phone, eager to drown your sorrows out with your favorite song.

However, as soon as you press play and the beat floods through your ears, you feel a tap on your shoulder. "Excuse me, would you—" When you turn toward the male voice, the words seem to die in his throat. You look up at him, already bracing yourself for a hit or a shove. His face twists, and you shut your eyes, fully prepared for him to attack you. But he doesn't. "Are you okay?" he asks. "Your face..." He reaches a hand out to touch you and you flinch. "Did somebody hurt you?"

The tears start flowing before you can stop them. You swipe at your eyes, wincing as your fingers brush against the bruise on your skin. "Just— If you're gonna do it, make it quick, okay?"

"Do what?" the boy asks. "You think I'm gonna hurt you? Who did that to your face?"

"Does it matter?" you snap back. "You'll just make things worse. Why do you care anyway?"

The boy freezes, his mouth opening and closing. Truthfully, he's trying to redeem himself for a similar situation that he was involved in last year, but he can't let the new kid know about his past. This is his chance at a fresh start. "Look," he says after a moment. "I know it's none of my business, but I just don't think anyone should be pushed around." He looks into your face and hisses. "Aish... That doesn't look good at all."

"Yeah, thanks for pointing that out," you mutter. "At least he didn't smack my head into the wall this time..." Your hand absently strays to the bump on the side of your head; thankfully, it seems like the bump is going away.

"He?" the boy says. "What's his name?"

"I don't know," you reply. "He hasn't taken the time to properly introduce himself before putting his hands on me. But I'll be sure to ask him next time."

The boy smirks. "You have to know what he looks like though, right, smart-ass?"

"Oh yeah." you grimace. "Poor guy could shatter mirrors. Maybe that's why he's so pissed."

The boy laughs, and the sound makes your heart squeeze. Whoa... This guy's seriously gorgeous...! Was he made in a factory or something?

"You're funny," he says, grinning. "My name's Taehyung. What's yours?"

"I'm Y/N." His smile makes you smile—something you haven't done once since you started at this school. "It's nice to meet at least one seemingly-not-mean person here."

Taehyung falters for just a moment, before his smile grows even brighter. "Hey, we should, like, exchange numbers or something. That's what people do in these types of situations, right?"

"It would seem so." You bite back a smile as you swap phones.

The bell rings then, and you sigh, handing Taehyung's phone back to him. "Time to go back to Hell."

"Hell?" Taehyung chuckles as he opens the door for you. "I don't think it's that bad. I just hate Trig."

As you trudge back down the stairs, you keep an eye out for the guy that has taken a shine to you—if you can even call it that. But... Taehyung is still behind you, isn't he? Maybe—

"Yah, there you are!" Your heart just about leaps out of your throat when you hear the loud, almost friendly sounding voice. "I was looking for you in class, but you never showed! I was lonely."

You freeze on the stairs, and Taehyung murmurs a low "aish" as he tries to avoid plowing into your back. The noise of the hustle and bustle of students hurrying to their next class fades to a dull hum in your ears as you lock eyes with the behemoth that has made every day a living nightmare. He grins at you as he hurries up the stairs from the level below you. His gaze never leaves yours as he shoves passed a slow-moving pair of girls. He's coming... He's coming...! He's coming!! You're fully-aware of this, but you can't will yourself to move.

"... okay? Yah!" You feel a sharp tug on your backpack that brings you back. You turn your head to find Taehyung staring into your face, concern softening his features. "What's wrong? Talk to me!" He places both hands on your shoulders, squeezing them firmly.

"He... He's coming for me...!" Your voice is barely a whisper.

"Who is? What—" Taehyung's gaze drifts over your shoulder, focusing on the beast that is quickly making his way towards you. "Oh. He's the one, huh?" Taehyung looks at you for a moment, then murmurs a quiet "excuse me" as he moves to slip passed you.

"W–wait!" You reach for his sleeve, gripping it tight. "You'll just make it worse!" Taehyung stops in his tracks. "You'll just make it worse. Please... leave it alone."

Taehyung turns to face you after a long moment. "That's what you really want? Fine, then. I won't beat his ass. But, we still have three classes left today. What're you gonna do?"

You bite your lip. Right. That means plenty of opportunity for you to get hurt. But you can't skip class just for something like this. "I'm just gonna stick it out." You try your best to muster a smile.

"Aish," Taehyung mutters, running a hand through his hair. "If that's what you want. I'm going to walk you to the rest of your classes, and I'll wait for you so you won't be alone. Okay?"

"Okay," you murmur, ducking your head.

"Don't worry," Taehyung says. "He won't do anything when I'm around." He sounds so confident, so sure. "Now, come on. Let's go to class." Taehyung walks in front of you, hiding you from view. As you walk behind Taehyung, you feel a sense of unease. Your palms are sweating so much you have to wipe them on your jeans. You pass the boy that has made your school-life a living Hell. Your heart skips a beat at having him so close to you, your body automatically tenses up in anticipation of a hit. But it doesn't happen. There's a sudden chill that runs through your body, but that's it.

Once you and Taehyung reach the bottom of the stairs, he turns to face you, grinning. "See? I told you! Now you don't have to worry!"

Taehyung walks you to the rest of your classes, and just like he said, you remain unharmed. Although, seeing the person that's been bullying you so relentlessly become increasingly more agitated every time he sees you hiding behind Taehyung does worry you quite a bit. He can't stay by your side forever. What's going to happen when you're finally alone?

"Oh, that's an easy fix," Taehyung says when you voice your concerns as he walks you across the parking lot to your car. "I can be anywhere you need me. All you have to do is text me." When you open your mouth to protest, he cuts you off. "It's not a bother at all. See you tomorrow!" He waits by your car until you drive off, raising a hand in farewell.

The next morning, as you get ready for school, you wonder if Taehyung will actually stick around. You bite your lip as you pull up his contact in your phone. He has no obligation to hang around you. So it's best to not rely on him. When you get to school, you catch sight of Taehyung surrounded by a large group of students. They're all laughing and joking. It's no surprise someone as gorgeous as him is popular. You take a seat at a nearby picnic table and pull out your headphones as you wait for the first period bell.

"Good morning!" You feel a light tap on your shoulder and look up to find Taehyung smiling down at you. "I brought donuts. Would you like one?" He holds up a white paper bag, gently shaking the contents.

"Are you sure?" you ask. You can't help but think that this is some elaborate prank, and Taehyung could turn on you at any moment.

"Of course," Taehyung says. "Please, eat some." You study him as you reach for the bag of donuts and take one. He seems so open; his eyes are so clear. It's like he has no secrets or hidden malice in him at all. But there's no way that's possible. Everyone has something to hide. Something they don't want others to see.

The bell rings then. Taehyung dutifully stays by your side the whole passing period. He greets everyone he sees warmly, like they're all old friends; even going so far as to introduce you and include you in conversation. The air fills with the sound of his voice, his laugh.

Soon it's time to part ways. Tae smiles. "I'll see you in a little bit, okay? If you need anything, just text me." He repeats this line every single time he has to leave you; it's like he's a parent leaving his child at their first day of preschool. If you're being totally honest with yourself, it makes you happy. Maybe now, because of Taehyung, school won't be so bad.

During your last class of the day, your phone buzzes in your pocket.

Taehyung: Hey, do you wanna grab some food after school? I'm starvinggggg 😩

You feel a smile slip across your face, and you don't bother trying to hold it back. Perhaps things are finally beginning to look up for you. The bell can't ring soon enough as excitement grows in your belly. When you leave the classroom, you don't see Taehyung. Your phone vibrates in your pocket.

Taehyung: Ahhh! I have to stay behind for a bit! I'm so sorry! But, if you want, you can wait for me outside. I'll be there as soon as I can!

You begin to walk aimlessly as you text him back. "It's okay! I'll wait for you!" This would be a good time to try and get more familiar with the layout of the campus. As you walk, you don't see any other students. It's as if everyone in the whole school cleared out as soon as the bell rang.

"Yah, it's my lucky day." Hearing this voice makes you freeze. The boy who's been terrorizing you is coming towards you, a huge, malicious grin stretching across his face. "My hands have been itching to punch something. And you're all alone."

You take a step back, your heart leaping into your throat. You want to scream, but all that comes out is a tiny squeak. When he lunges toward you, you stumble, but manage to keep your balance as you scramble back up the hall. One word repeats over and over in your mind: Taehyung, Taehyung, Taehyung!! If you can just find Taehyung, you'll be okay. Suddenly, you're yanked backwards by your hair. You scream as your hands come up to cover your bully's. He slams you into the wall, keeping his grip on your hair. He hits you, catching the bruised side of your face.

After what feels like an eternity, your bully finally leaves you in a heap on the floor. "Before I go, I'll give you some advice: Taehyung's not the guy you think he is. He's just like me," he says. You can hear the smile in his voice.

You wait to move until you can't hear his footsteps anymore. It hurts to pull yourself up to standing, but you manage. You just barely make it to your car, taking a moment to catch your breath. You catch sight of Taehyung exiting the building. He looks around for a moment, then pulls out his phone.

Taehyung: Hey! I'm sorry I made you wait 😅 Where are you? We can decide on a restaurant!

You don't respond to him. You can't. You can't let him see you like this. As you look at your face in the visor mirror, a thought begins to worry the back of your mind. What if he knew? That's not such a crazy idea, is it? How convenient; Taehyung's suddenly "busy" and you get the crap beaten out of you. It makes sense. Taehyung has no real loyalty to you at all; you're nobody to him. Your heart drops as an emptiness fills your chest. Great. There goes the one "friend" you had. How could you have been so naive? You idiot. Why would someone like Taehyung suddenly take an interest in a nobody new kid anyway?

Taehyung texts you multiple times, but you don't reply. What's the point? He's not really your friend anyway. He's nothing but a fake.

The next day, you keep your head down, drawing your hoodie up in the hopes that it will cover your face. You contemplated skipping today, but why put off dealing with it? It's best to just face it.

You've been trying to avoid running into Taehyung all day. But in between classes, it's harder to miss him. Since you're in the same grade, a lot of your classes are in the same area. You catch sight of Taehyung in the hall, and immediately turn around when you see him walking towards you. You head for the roof, your heart skipping a beat when you hear his voice call after you. He follows you onto the roof, shutting the door behind him.

"Hey," he says. "Are you mad at me?"

You don't turn around to face him. You ball your fists up at your sides, trying with all your might to keep your tears back.

"Are you mad because I was late?" Tae goes on. "I said I was sorry; but you didn't text me back. I don't know—"

"Don't play stupid," you mutter, your voice low with anger. "You know exactly what you did."

"No," he says, exasperation slipping into his tone. "I really don't! I have no idea why you're freezing me out. We were fine yesterday!"

"So you're telling me you didn't know I was going to get the shit beaten out of me while I was waiting for you? How fucking convenient. Look at me!" You turn around, showing him your face. "I knew you were too good to be true. You never wanted to be my friend." You can feel yourself shaking as you try your damndest to contain all the emotions that are threatening to explode from within you at any moment.

Taehyung freezes, his eyes going wide. "What the fuck..." His expression isn't what you were expecting at all. He looks furious. His fists ball up at his sides, trembling with barely-suppressed rage. "I'm going to kill him." After a second, his expression shifts, crumpling. "I'm sorry. This happened because I wasn't there with you." He steps forward, reaching out to touch you. You shut your eyes when his fingertips make contact with your skin; the tears that you've been fighting finally slipping down your cheeks. "Aigoo..." he murmurs. "Come here." He pulls you into his chest, resting his cheek against your head. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

You stay in each other's arms for a little infinity, then Taehyung pulls back. "I'll be right back," he says. "Stay here."

"What're you going to do?" you ask.

"I'm going to make sure that idiot never hurts you again." Taehyung gives you a bright grin, brushing a stray tear from your cheek before leaving you alone on the roof.

You wait for a few minutes, wondering what to do, when the bell rings. Well, so much for waiting for Taehyung, you think to yourself as you head back inside.

As you walk towards your next class, there's a sudden commotion. Students begin murmuring excitedly and hurrying in the same direction. "What did you say? There's a fight in the gym?! Oh, shit! Let's go!"

Your heart skips a beat as you consider following the crowd. There's no way it could be... You push a hand through your hair. He wouldn't... No fucking way! After a moment of hesitation, you spit a curse and hurry towards the gym.

There's already a good-sized crowd bunched in the center of the basketball court. A raucous cheer goes up, and the mass of students rocks to one side. "Get his ass!" someone cries. This is answered with more cheers. You take a deep breath before pushing your way to the front of the crowd.

Just like you feared, Taehyung is currently straddling the boy that rearranged your face. His fists make dull thumping sounds when they make contact with flesh. Taehyung grabs a fistful of hair and slams your bully's head into the floor. Your bully's hands shoot up, his thumbs aiming for Taehyung's eyes. They dig in and twist, forcing Taehyung to scramble away. He winces, his gaze remaining unfocused as he tries desperately to regain his bearings. Your bully grins as he quickly advances, pushing Taehyung back through the crowd.

"Out of the way! Get back, get back!" Someone grabs your arm and yanks you to safety.

Taehyung is pinned against the wall. His gaze darts around the room as he tries to conjure up his next move. "Yo, heads up!" a boy next to you shouts. It's too late. A sharp strike to the temple sends Taehyung reeling. He stumbles and falls to one knee, shaking his head as if to clear it.

"Kick, incoming! Kick, kick!"

Taehyung lets out a sharp breath as he manages to catch the foot that was coming straight for his ribs. Your bully's mouth falls open as he's left hopping on one foot. The crowd lets out a loud "ohhhhh!".
Taehyung smirks as he stands tall, shoving the bigger boy back. Your bully stumbles, his eyes wide. Taehyung hurries forward and grips his shirt in his fists, steering him in the direction he desires.

"Oh, shit, the bleachers!" someone whispers.

Taehyung grins in a way that makes goosebumps rise on your arms. Taehyung pushes his opponent back once more, leaning over him. He looks back at the crowd for just a moment, his gaze locking onto you. He doesn't even look the same. There's no way the Taehyung you're looking at now and the Taehyung you met a few days ago are the same person.

When Taehyung starts slamming your bully's head against the bleachers, everyone falls silent. There are no more cheers, no more excited murmurs, nothing. You squeeze your eyes shut, covering your ears in an attempt to block out the steady drum of skull beating against metal. Your stomach lurches, and you have to get out of there. You turn to go, when a deep voice rings out. "Hey! What's going on?!"

Instantaneously, the crowd disperses, scattering like ants. Taehyung seems oblivious as he continues to beat your bully. "Shit," you mutter as you hurry over to him, gripping the back of his shirt in your fist. You pull him backwards with all the strength you can muster, finally dragging him away from his prey. "Come on! We have to get out of here!" Taehyung doesn't say anything as he allows you to